Patrice Evra lays into 'crisis' club Arsenal ahead of Manchester visit
• Evra describes Arsenal as 'a football training centre'
• 'What is there for Arsenal? Nothing. There are no trophies'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/10/patrice-evra-crisis-club-arsenal
Alan Gardner
guardian.co.uk, Friday 10 December 2010 10.47 GMT
Article history
Manchester United's Patrice Evra labelled Arsenal 'a football training centre' ahead of the game between the two clubs. Photograph: Neal Simpson/Empics Sport
Patrice Evra has dismissed Arsenal as "a football training centre" and a club facing "crisis" in a stinging appraisal of Manchester United's next Premier League opponents. The France left-back added that while Arsenal may be top of the table, he believes Chelsea are United's main rivals for the title.
Speaking to the French TV station Canal+, Evra acknowledged the ability of Arsène Wenger's side but pointed to the club's ongoing trophy drought – their last silverware came with victory over United in the 2005 FA Cup final – as evidence for his criticism. He even suggested that United can afford to lose to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday without conceding an insurmountable advantage in the title race.
"For me, Arsenal is a football training centre," said Evra. "You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That's what people remember. It has been five years since they won anything and for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis."
"We can lose against them, but at the end of the day, what is there for Arsenal? There is nothing. There are no trophies, there is nothing. Our real enemy is Chelsea. We are more concerned with Chelsea's results than those of Arsenal, even if we know Arsenal are a great team who can beat Chelsea, us or anyone."
Arsenal are currently one point ahead of United at the top of the Premier League, having played a game more, but could stretch the gap to four points with victory on Monday. Third-placed Chelsea, meanwhile, face a potentially tricky trip to Tottenham looking for only a second win in their last seven league games.
Wenger's side, who qualified from their Champions League group on Wednesday, have also reached the last four of this season's Carling Cup, prompting a belief that their commitment to passing football may at last bring some tangible reward. However, for all the plaudits Arsenal receive about their attractive play, Evra suggested that they lack the steel that is married to style at United.
"When we play against Arsenal, it is really fun," he said. "They are a team that plays football who will not come to Old Trafford with 11 men behind the ball. We also play football, but the difference is that we also have strength. Sometimes, they cannot kill off matches. We are more efficient."
Arsenal's France midfielder Samir Nasri responded by saying that his team-mates would travel to Manchester with the aim of proving their maturity. "We are not children and we will demonstrate that on Monday," said Nasri. "We will show Manchester United that Arsenal have really grown."
Evra had been one of a number of United players with fitness doubts ahead of the Arsenal game but the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, today said that he expects to have a full squad to pick from.
"Everyone is fit," said Ferguson. "Paul Scholes started training yesterday. It was just light stuff but hopefully he will be available for Monday and Rio [Ferdinand] should be fit as well. Jonny [Evans] and Wes [Brown] have had a bit of a virus that has been going around the place [but] we should have a full squad for Monday."
• Evra describes Arsenal as 'a football training centre'
• 'What is there for Arsenal? Nothing. There are no trophies'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/10/patrice-evra-crisis-club-arsenal
Alan Gardner
guardian.co.uk, Friday 10 December 2010 10.47 GMT
Article history
Manchester United's Patrice Evra labelled Arsenal 'a football training centre' ahead of the game between the two clubs. Photograph: Neal Simpson/Empics Sport
Patrice Evra has dismissed Arsenal as "a football training centre" and a club facing "crisis" in a stinging appraisal of Manchester United's next Premier League opponents. The France left-back added that while Arsenal may be top of the table, he believes Chelsea are United's main rivals for the title.
Speaking to the French TV station Canal+, Evra acknowledged the ability of Arsène Wenger's side but pointed to the club's ongoing trophy drought – their last silverware came with victory over United in the 2005 FA Cup final – as evidence for his criticism. He even suggested that United can afford to lose to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday without conceding an insurmountable advantage in the title race.
"For me, Arsenal is a football training centre," said Evra. "You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That's what people remember. It has been five years since they won anything and for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis."
"We can lose against them, but at the end of the day, what is there for Arsenal? There is nothing. There are no trophies, there is nothing. Our real enemy is Chelsea. We are more concerned with Chelsea's results than those of Arsenal, even if we know Arsenal are a great team who can beat Chelsea, us or anyone."
Arsenal are currently one point ahead of United at the top of the Premier League, having played a game more, but could stretch the gap to four points with victory on Monday. Third-placed Chelsea, meanwhile, face a potentially tricky trip to Tottenham looking for only a second win in their last seven league games.
Wenger's side, who qualified from their Champions League group on Wednesday, have also reached the last four of this season's Carling Cup, prompting a belief that their commitment to passing football may at last bring some tangible reward. However, for all the plaudits Arsenal receive about their attractive play, Evra suggested that they lack the steel that is married to style at United.
"When we play against Arsenal, it is really fun," he said. "They are a team that plays football who will not come to Old Trafford with 11 men behind the ball. We also play football, but the difference is that we also have strength. Sometimes, they cannot kill off matches. We are more efficient."
Arsenal's France midfielder Samir Nasri responded by saying that his team-mates would travel to Manchester with the aim of proving their maturity. "We are not children and we will demonstrate that on Monday," said Nasri. "We will show Manchester United that Arsenal have really grown."
Evra had been one of a number of United players with fitness doubts ahead of the Arsenal game but the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, today said that he expects to have a full squad to pick from.
"Everyone is fit," said Ferguson. "Paul Scholes started training yesterday. It was just light stuff but hopefully he will be available for Monday and Rio [Ferdinand] should be fit as well. Jonny [Evans] and Wes [Brown] have had a bit of a virus that has been going around the place [but] we should have a full squad for Monday."
, as if arsenal need to be any more fired up for this game